Operant Conditioning

Essay # 115265

Psychology > Behaviorism

Looks at operant conditioning as the link between all learned behaviors.

1,025 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses operant conditioning and explains that it is not only is a means of disciplining children and pets but also is associated with learning. The paper then goes on to investigate the positive and negative variations of reinforcement and punishment. Most people, the paper states, are unable to differentiate between reinforcement and punishment.

From the Paper:

"The objective of reinforcing is to increase the wanted behavior where punishing requires the decrease of an unwanted behavior. Whether positive or negative, the statement holds true. The only commonalities between the two is that the 'positive' aspect of both administer a stimulus in response to observed behavior while the 'negative' aspect of both remove a stimulus in response to observable behavior."

Sample of Sources Used:

"Behavioral Theory." University of Texas. 5 July 2009 <http://teachnet.edb.utexas.edu/~lynda_abbott/Behavioral2.html>.
Blackman, Derek E. Operant Conditioning (University Paperbacks). New York: Methuen young books, 1974. Google Books. Google. 5 July 2009 <http://books.google.com/books?id=7AEOAAAAQAAJ&dq=inauthor:%22Derek+E.+Blackman%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s>.
McSweeny, Frances K., and Samantha Swindell. "Common processes may contribute to extinction and habituation." The Journal of General Psychology 129.4 (Oct 2002). General OneFile. Gale. Rancho Cucamonga Public Library. 6 July 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodld=IPS>.
"Measured learning." The Economist (US) 325.n7788 (Dec 5, 1992): 90(2) General OneFile. Gale. Rancho Cucamonga Public Library. 6 July 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodld=IPS>.
Myers, David G. Psychology. 7th ed. New York: Worth, 2004.